Abigail Ruhman
Health ReporterAbigail Ruhman is a member of KERA's specialty beats team as its Health Reporter. Abigail was previously the statewide health reporter for the Indiana Public Broadcasting News Team, covering health policy. They graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s in journalism and a Bachelor of Arts with a dual emphasis in sociology and women's and gender studies.
-
Dallas launched its RIGHT Care Program in 2018 to divert people experiencing a mental health crisis from hospitals and jails, when appropriate. Now, the program is testing out two teams that expand those services to mental health related 911 calls that involve children and adolescents. -
The Department of State Health Services said it was notified two Texans were on the MV Hondius but "did not have any contact with a sick person while aboard the ship." -
Texans with disabilities can wait almost two decades for certain Medicaid programs. During a House Human Services Committee public hearing Tuesday, advocates and some state lawmakers said they worry what long wait times mean for the nearly 200,000 Texans on "interest lists" for services. -
The agency that oversees behavioral health and social work providers has about 1,000 “pending” complaints against providers — hundreds more than it has received in previous years. Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council leadership told lawmakers it may need support from the state to handle the volume. -
Some of Texas’ largest buyers of health care provided insight into what might be driving higher health care costs. The House Select Committee on Health Care Affordability concluded its two-day public hearing Friday. -
Health care costs are increasing faster than the rate of inflation. A Texas House committee is holding a two-day hearing this week to learn more about what drives lack of affordable healthcare before working on policy recommendations later this year. -
Texas is in the process of planning for the future of its state hospitals. Some advocates and families said Texas needs to improve capacity and access as demand for services grows. -
A new report from the Commonwealth Fund found Texas has worse racial and ethnic health disparities than other states in the Southwest. -
Classroom in a kitchen: How a Dallas cafe connects people with disabilities to hands-on job trainingTexans with disabilities can encounter a lot of barriers to employment – which can limit their independence. That’s where job skills programs come in. The largest behavioral health provider in Dallas County opened a café that’s preparing people for future jobs in food service. -
Prism Health North Texas, a community health center, participated in clinical trials for Merck's new HIV treatment, Idvynso. It could help address a drug resistance that's been on the rise in low- and middle-income countries. -
Parkland Memorial Hospital has one of the busiest emergency rooms in the country. Dallas County's safety net hospital will add more than 100 beds to address the growing demand — half of them will be added before 2026 World Cup events kick off in North Texas. -
KERA News health reporter Abigail Ruhman is opening up their expertise to answer your questions about health in North Texas.
